Virtual Town Hall Forum Closes Monday, March 11, at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, March 05, 2013 · 06:00 pm

The City of Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation are joint sponsors of a study of the Virginia Beach Housing Crisis Response System, the system of agencies and programs that is designed to assist the homeless and people at risk of becoming homeless. The study will provide a blueprint for future improvements to the system and guidelines for how best to utilize resources to prevent and end homelessness.

The city has created an online forum at www.vbgov.com/virtualtownhall where interested citizens can make suggestions about the study. The Virtual Town Hall forum also asks the following questions:

What concerns do you have regarding the study and its purpose?

What issues should be considered before the study is finalized?

How do you think our homeless services system can be improved?

This Virtual Hall Forum will close Monday, March 11, at 5 p.m. All relevant postings will be provided to the consultant for consideration.

In September 2012, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation provided funding for a study of the homeless services system in Virginia Beach, including regional components and connections of that system. OrgCode, Inc., the firm hired to conduct the study, is gathering data from people who are, or have been homeless, from non-profit agencies, faith-based organizations, and city and regional agencies in order to get a comprehensive understanding of our current system and the priorities for improving it. The study is expected to be completed in mid-April.

For more information about the study, contact Andrew Friedman, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, at (757) 385-5752, or visit www.vbgov.com/housing.